BONNIE A. SEARS

A celebration of life service was 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Adamsville Baptist Church, with the Rev. Jon Hoey officiating. Visitation was in the church fellowship hall afterwards. Mrs. Sears lay in state one hour prior to the service.

A graveside service will be today at 3:30 p.m. at the Montlawn Cemetery in Garner, with the Rev. Lee Ray Greene officiating.

Mrs. Sears was married to the Rev. M.O. Sears for 66 years prior to his death in 2003. Her children are son, Jimmy Sears, and his wife, Nancy, of Raleigh; and daughter Jean Kirk of Goldsboro.

Bonnie was the last survivor among 10 children. She was preceded in death by her parents, A.E. and Dora Chappell Allen of Cary; brothers, Glauda, Clelon, Rocher, Herbert and Oral; and sisters, Bertha Wilder, Beulah Pope, Bessie Mobley and Blanche Wood.

Other survivors include nine grandchildren, Kenneth Kirk of Goldsboro, Kevin Kirk of Hertford, Karen and her husband, Jeff, Mical of Graham, Kerry and his wife, Diane, Kirk of Farmington, N.Y., Kelly Kirk and Kim Targett of Orlando, Fla., Jimmie and her husband, David, Hughes of Greenville, Lynn and her husband, Jim, Harrison of Franklin, Tenn., Tonja and her husband, Phillip Dewar of Apex, Amy and her husband, Mike, Eggers of Raleigh; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Sears was a graduate of Cary High School and attended Meredith College. She was a model supporter of her husband. She organized and served as librarian in many of the churches where her husband served as pastor, including Adamsville Baptist. She is remembered for her love for children and teaching them Bible stories and choruses in Sunday School, Mission Friends, Vacation Bible School and at home. It was obvious that she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her husband, her family and her neighbors. She delighted in preparing delicious meals and pound cakes for all to enjoy.

Her nature was to always put others first and provide for their slightest need.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Adamsville Baptist Church, 1302 N. Berkeley Blvd., Goldsboro, N.C. 27534 or to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church building fund, 10005 Lake Wheeler Road, Fuquay-Varina, N.C. 27526.